Snowmobile Safety Course

[skidoodoug]

I have heard some rumors of Wisconsin no longer recognizing the Illinois Safety Course. Does anyone know if this is true.

 

[harvest1121]

I doubt it but maybe payback for letting their senate hanging out in Illinois. The Sanctuary State. I will have my dad call a guy that teaches the class in Illinois.

 

[fatdaddy]

I live in MN and asked the WI DNR if they accecpt the MN safety course and they said yes. I actually got stopped and check my sons cert, and everything was fine. I don't see why IL wouldn't be the same.

 

[skidoodoug]

You are correct that in the past they have recognized an out of state certificate, but someone told me that it is no longer going to be the case.

Thanks

 

[MZEMS2]

I just pulled this off of the WI DNR site. Look down about a third of the way of the first page. Under "snowmobiler age requirements" Looks to me like WI will honor Il training.

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/es/enforcement/safety/snowed.html

 

[skidoodoug]

Other states and Provinces that issue a snowmobile safety certificate to snowmobilers will be honored in Wisconsin.

That's exactly what it says. Not sure where my buddy got his info.

 

[frnash]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]

"Other states and Provinces that issue a snowmobile safety certificate to snowmobilers will be honored in Wisconsin." …

Gotta love it! Now what does that mean, exactly? (I just can't resist!)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]If the folks that write those regulations (and laws as well) are that illiterate, it's no wonder there are so many expensive lawyers and courts involved in interpreting those laws & regs![/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Consider this:[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]First, let's separate the embedded phrase from the root sentence, as a visual aid to understanding the grammatical issue:

"Other states and Provinces — that issue a snowmobile safety certificate to snowmobilers — will be honored in Wisconsin."

[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Then delete that phrase, revealing the substance of the sentence:

"Other states and Provinces will be honored in Wisconsin."

And the meaning is clear: Wisconsin will honor the other states and provinces — but not necessarily their safety certificates![/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Priceless![/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Somewhat better (say what you mean!):

“Snowmobile safety certificates issued to snowmobilers by other states and provinces will be honored in Wisconsin.”

Again, separate [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]the embedded phrase from the root [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] sentence, as a visual aid to understanding the grammatical issue:

“Snowmobile safety certificates — issued to snowmobilers by other states and provinces — will be honored in Wisconsin.”

Then delete that phrase, [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]revealing [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] the substance of the sentence:

“Snowmobile safety certificates will be honored in Wisconsin.”

Better yet (and crystal clear!):

“Wisconsin will honor snowmobile safety certificates issued to snowmobilers by other states and provinces.”

This is not rocket science! (But English clearly is a dying language!)
[/FONT]

 

[MZEMS2]

Geez Frnash, I thought it was pretty clear when I read it.

 

[frnash]

Geez Frnash, I thought it was pretty clear when I read it.

So what meaning was clear to you,

"Wisconsin will honor the other states and provinces — but not necessarily their safety certificates." ?

If you drew any other meaning from that sentence, then that is exactly why all those expensive lawyers and courts are in place to "interpret" those poorly written laws and regulations!

Grammatically, the subject of the sentence (as it appears in the regulations) is "(Other) states and Provinces," not something buried in the phrase: "that issue a snowmobile safety certificate to snowmobilers", and the predicate: "will be honored in Wisconsin" applies to that subject! Ergo, "Wisconsin will honor the other states and provinces!" Maybe as might be heard in an overblown political speech: "We are gathered here today to honor the States of Minnesota and Michigan, and the Province of Ontario."

In comparison, writing it as follows makes its meaning clear and unambiguous:
“Wisconsin will honor snowmobile safety certificates issued to snowmobilers by other states and provinces.”

Unless for even more legal clarity it should say:
“Wisconsin will honor valid, unexpired snowmobile safety certificates issued to snowmobilers by other states and provinces.”

​

 

[MZEMS2]

Well yeah, I guess if you're rippin' on the grammar and the sentence, the way it was written, then yeah..it's ugly. But I still get the jist of it. I suppose if someone wanted to get technical, there could be an argument. You are after all dealing with a governmental department..what do you expect..LOL...